Peer relationships and preadolescents' perceptions of security in the child-mother relationship.

Abstract

We wish to thank the families who participated in this project. We also thank Amy C. Stevens for her help with data collection and data coding. We wish to thank Stevan Hobfoll and Thomas J. Beradt for their comments on a draft of this article, Cindy Hazan for her contributions in developing items for the Security scale, and Susan Harter for her assistance in collecting pilot data. Copies of the Security scale and observational rating scales are available from Kathryn A. Kerns.

Friendship in High-functioning Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Mixed and Non-mixed Dyads

“…Children in both mixed and non-mixed friendships revealed similar levels of security of attachment (see Table 1), with mean scores above the cut-off score of 45, indicating secure attachment characteristics according to the KSS (Kerns et al 1996). Second, the MANOVA that was calculated for the examination of children's capabilities in emotional recognition (basic/complex) was not significant [F(2,38) = 0.38 p > 0.05, η 2 = 0.05].…”

“…Child's Attachment Measure-To tap children's attachment quality, we utilized the Kerns Security Scale (KSS) (Kerns et al 1996(Kerns et al , 2001), the most widely used self-report for children in middle childhood that provides a continuum of security scores among individuals. This scale was also successfully implemented with children with learning disability (Bauminger and Kimhi-Kind, in press).…”

“…Scores across items are summed so that children receive a score on a continuous dimension of security, with higher scores indicating more secure attachment. Also, Kerns et al (1996) have suggested a cutoff score of 45 for the differentiation of secure and insecure attachment style. A score of 45 and below reflects an insecure attachment style, whereas a score above 45 reflects a secure attachment style.…”

“…The KSS has good internal consistency for mother-child and for father-child security perceptions (Cronbach alpha of 0.79 and 0.87, respectively), and a high test-retest correlation over a short time interval, r (30) = 0.75, indicating stability in children's perceptions of security over a short period of time (Kerns et al 1996(Kerns et al , 2001). Efforts to validate the instrument have examined how children's security scores are related to concurrently administered projective measures of attachment.…”

Family systems approach to attachment relations, war trauma, and mental health among Palestinian children and parents

“…This was measured using the 10-item Security Scale (Kerns, Klepac, & Cole, 1996), which depicts a parent’s acceptance of and willingness to serve as an attachment figure and provide a secure base for a child. The items include, for example, ‘I respect my child’s opinions and encourage him/her to express them,’ ‘I feel a child should be given comfort and understanding when she/he is scared or upset,’ and ‘I make sure my child knows that I appreciate what she/he tries to accomplish.’ Mothers and fathers responded by noting how well each item corresponded to their attitudes and behaviours towards the target child on a six-point Likert scale (1 = not at all; 6 = very well).…”